Vetus Auximum was founded by the same Greek colonists of Ancona; later it was contested by theGauls and thePicentes until conquered by theRomans, who used it as a fortress for their northernPicenum settlement starting from 174 BCE. The walls were made of large rectangular stones which are still visible in some locations. It was a colony until 157 BCE. The family ofPompey were its protectors and resistedJulius Caesar in 49 BCE. Inscriptions and monuments in its town square attest to the importance of Osimo during imperial times.[3]
Osimo was a free commune by 1100 A.D. It was later returned to the Pope by CardinalGil de Albornoz. In 1399–1430, it was a fief of theMalatesta family, who built arocca, or "castle", which is no longer intact. Osimo was again made a part of thePapal States, and remained so untilItalian unification in 1861.
Osimo retains a portion of its ancient town wall (2nd century BCE). Under the town is a large series of tunnels with esoteric bas-reliefs. The town hall contains a number of statues found on the site of the ancient forum. The new castle (1489), of which parts remain today, was built byBaccio Pontelli.
Among the churches in the town are the following:[5]
Osimo Cathedral: (8th–12th centuries) The restored Romanesque-Gothic church has a portal with sculptures of the 13th century, an old crypt, a fine bronze font of the 16th century and a series of portraits of all the bishops of the olddiocese of Osimo. The baptistery is from the early 17th century and also has a notable baptismal font.
